I'm going to ask our Calvinist readers to stay off this one. This is a question for those who have self-designated as "traditionalists." I will delete comments from Calvinists on this post. This is a non-Calvinist forum today! You may state your views without argumentation here. I may ask a question for clarity, but you have the floor today. Here is the question I hope some of you will answer - honestly and graciously. What is it you want from Calvinists in the SBC? Obviously, there are three simple solutions. Calvinists could abandon their doctrines. Calvinists could leave … [Read more...] about “Traditionalists” – What Do You Want from Calvinists?
We are SO tired of talking about Calvinism, right?
Here's our graph of our stats over the last couple of weeks. Notice anything? … [Read more...] about We are SO tired of talking about Calvinism, right?
“A Plague on Both Your Houses” – The Calvinism Debates in the SBC
Mercutio was caught in the middle of the warring houses of Montague and Capulet. He ended up getting killed during a battle between Romeo and Tybalt - an unintended but tragic consequence of the blood-feud that had gripped Verona. We are Verona, and the Calvinist Montagues are in battle against the non-Calvinist, "traditionalist" Capulets. Both sides claim the others started it. Both claim that they are serving God and that the other side is the one responsible for most of the trouble. "It was them! We only responded to what they did." This "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" attitude … [Read more...] about “A Plague on Both Your Houses” – The Calvinism Debates in the SBC
Why I’m Opposed to “New Calvinism”
Yesterday, "A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God's Plan of Salvation" hit the internet. The discussion that stems from this should be really interesting--to say the least. In the Preamble the motivation behind this document is set forth. It begins: Every generation of Southern Baptists has the duty to articulate the truths of its faith with particular attention to the issues that are impacting contemporary mission and ministry. The precipitating issue for this statement is the rise of a movement called “New Calvinism” among Southern Baptists. This movement is … [Read more...] about Why I’m Opposed to “New Calvinism”
Exclusive Claims on Traditional Southern Baptist Soteriology?
The next big thing in the Calvinism debate within the SBC has arrived. Ever since it was posted over on SBC Today, “A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation” has been gathering attention in comment streams and many blogs, including this one. This Statement attempts to define a common doctrinal statement about salvation for non-Calvinists within the SBC. For all of us who’ve debated these issues at length, we should applaud this effort. All of us should be able to agree that “non-Calvinist” is not a very helpful descriptor of this group’s … [Read more...] about Exclusive Claims on Traditional Southern Baptist Soteriology?
I Am A Traditionalist
In an ironic twist, there is a new name I can fully embrace this summer in New Orleans. As most readers at SBC Voices might assume, I have already signed A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God's Plan of Salvation. It describes, in a manner completely consistent with The Baptist Faith and Message, the soteriological position I hold dear and boldly proclaim. By drafting the statement, the authors have provided at least one service to Southern Baptists that I believe should not go unnoticed, and it is in the area of nomenclature. While this may not have been their … [Read more...] about I Am A Traditionalist
What’s It Gonna Take?
Last January, as I’ve written about, I took a trip to Zambia to teach at a Bible College, and I hope to do it again this January. The college is operated by an organization called Gospelink (which is a good organization, not to be confused with another gospelink website—the LDS on-line library). And this past Sunday I had a gentleman on the board of directors come and speak my church. You see, Gospelink’s primary mission focus is not a Bible college in Zambia, though that is now an important focus. Rather, as their main task they raise support from a country that has in order to fund the … [Read more...] about What’s It Gonna Take?
Six ways NAMB can help your church in evangelism (By Larry Wynn)
Larry Wynn is vice president of evangelism at the North American Mission Board. There’s really no better sign of a church’s spiritual health than the evangelistic activity of its people. It always excites me to see Southern Baptists embrace their calling to make Christ known. We’re fast approaching a season of intense, concentrated engagement in reaching communities for Christ. Crossover 2012 in New Orleans will provide citywide evangelism efforts as Southern Baptists engage in outreach leading up to the Annual Meeting in The Crescent City. As summer moves in, SBC churches across … [Read more...] about Six ways NAMB can help your church in evangelism (By Larry Wynn)
Will state conventions be helped by undermining the Cooperative Program? (by William Thornton)
Editor: I also receive the resolution from Joe McGee that William references, and had thought to respond. William did it first and did it better! I appreciate his perspective. You can (and should) read William at SBC Plodder. The Consolation Baptist Association here in Georgia has passed a resolution suggesting that churches cut their Cooperative Program giving by 25-35 percent and designate this to "state missions" or, as explained to me, to their state convention. I learned of the resolution from a comment left on SBC Voices, asked for and received a copy of it, and have had a couple … [Read more...] about Will state conventions be helped by undermining the Cooperative Program? (by William Thornton)
Let’s Open It Early!
In June 2010, almost two years ago now, SBC messengers defeated a proposal to unseal the records of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force meetings, records which the Task Force itself, unilaterally, took the liberty of sealing for a proposed fifteen years. The strongest argument against unsealing the records had to do with personnel considerations and centered upon the protection of individuals whose testimony about others might in fact jeopardize their jobs. They were promised confidentiality by the task force (who told them they could do that?) and the task force did not want to … [Read more...] about Let’s Open It Early!